Battle of Wakefield

The Battle of Wakefield was a decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses. It resulted in the death of the Yorkist claimant to the throne, Richard of York, and several other Yorkist leaders, as well as the destruction of the Yorkist army.

Background
Following the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Northampton in 1460, King Henry VI of England was once again captured by Duke Richard of York. Richard attempted to claim the throne, but even his staunchest supporters refused. Instead, the "Act of Accord" was adopted, according to which Henry VI would rule for life, but would be succeeded by York. Queen Margaret of Anjou was willing to fight for her son's inheritance, and she gathered troops in the north. Richard moved his army north to block the Lancastrians' recruitment efforts, but he was too late. The 18,000-strong Lancastrian army blockaded Richard's 9,000-strong force near Sandal Castle at Wakefield in West Yorkshire, leading to battle.

Battle
The Duke of York made an ill-advised attempt to sally out of the castle and attack the Lancastrian forces, with the Lancastrians deceiving the Duke of York into making a rash decision; Sir Andrew Trollope sent false defectors to York to convince him that Trollope was planning to change sides. The Lancastrians also showed false colors to trick Richard into thinking that his reinforcements had arrived, and Richard rode out from the castle to fight rather than be besieged. The Lancastrians cut off York from his castle and surrounded him, and York was unhorsed, wounded, and killed during a fight to the death; several other Yorkist leaders were slain. The Yorkist army was destroyed, and Richard's son Edward would succeed him as head of the Yorkist faction.